Local author hits big with Hollywood film and new book

When local author Emily Giffin gave up her career as an attorney to take up writing, she envisioned reaching a few milestones – getting an agent, selling her first novel, seeing the book published. The one she never imagined was the phone call telling her that her debut novel made the New York Times bestseller list.

Now with the release of her fifth novel, “Heart of the Matter,” (St. Martin's Press, $26.99) on Tuesday and her first novel "Something Borrowed" simultaneously being filmed in Hollywood with Kate Hudson in the lead role, Giffin’s achievements continue to far exceed her initial vision of writing success.

“It’s more like running a small business than being a writer,” Giffin said, at her home in Brookhaven, referring to  managing multiple projects in various stages of development. “It’s like a franchise and if you don’t treat it as that, it won’t work.”

Giffin’s work this year began as a consultant for the screen version of “Something Borrowed,” her first novel about an interesting turn of events among a group of friends. Shooting began April 27, on the film being produced by the production companies of Ed Burns and Hilary Swank. Initially, Giffin said she was cautious. She had heard stories of how Hollywood deals might never happen, but when everything came through she was thrilled to be invited to weigh in on casting and script discussions.

While many authors might view their work as sacred, on at least one occasion Giffin was the one arguing for a diversion from the book to make the movie script more believable.

"I think the reader will be very happy,” she said.

When it came to casting, Giffin's fans had strong opinions and Swank routinely asked her to throw questions out to readers via social media. In the end, Hudson beat out Jessica Biel and Kristen Bell to play lead character Darcy in the two-film deal that also includes Giffin’s second novel. Ginnifer Goodwin plays the role of Rachel. Giffin, who is currently co-writing the screenplay for her third novel, will have a cameo in the film. Hudson, said Giffin, has the kind of on-screen warmth that allows her lead character to believably transform from not-so-nice to sympathetic over the course of the two films.

The collaborative process of movie making was a welcome change from the isolation of writing her fifth novel, said Giffin, a book she considers her best yet.

“I think it is the most emotionally resonant and most serious in tone. It’s not a departure because I write about relationships and the complexities of relationships, but the character is a bit older. As I have grown, my characters have grown,” she said. Though Giffin’s past efforts have been categorized as chick lit, and not always kindly, it's a term she doesn't mind but one she feels can be limiting and sexist. This, she said, is not that type of book.

The novel, a tale of women, children and relationships that threaten to cross dangerous lines, marks the first time Giffin has written a novel in the third-person voice and as a dual narrative. A strong theme, she said, is motherhood and how much life changes when you have a child.

“Because of high stakes, there is a tendency for women to judge one another,” she said. “As I was writing, I kept thinking how women view their lives as a fairytale and we want it to be perfect and when we deviate from that fairytale, there is panic...but there can be beauty in the mistakes,” Giffin said.

As she preps for the upcoming book tour, Giffin is grateful for what has unfolded in her career.